KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — The Special Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, convened by Malaysia as Asean chair, began at 12.14pm at a hotel here today.
Chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, the meeting is attended by foreign ministers and officials from member countries and the Asean Secretariat, including Asean secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow are among the attendees. The meeting was convened pursuant to the decision of the prime ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand on December 11.
Other top diplomats at the meeting are Sugiono of Indonesia, Thongsavanh Phomvihane of Laos, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore, Bendito dos Santos Freitas of Timor-Leste, Datuk Erywan Pehin Yusof of Brunei, Theresa P. Lazaro of the Philippines, and Dang Hoang Giang of Vietnam, while Myanmar officials joined the meeting virtually.
Officials include Asean deputy secretary-general for political-security community Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz and Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin.
The meeting provides a platform for the Asean foreign ministers to exchange views on the situation between Cambodia and Thailand and to consider possible steps in support of the efforts towards de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities between the two neighbours.
The special meeting reflects the commitment of Asean member states to unity and solidarity, as well as Asean centrality in maintaining peace, security, stability, and prosperity in this region, in accordance with the Asean Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a Facebook post yesterday said the meeting will be an appropriate and constructive platform for Cambodia and Thailand to engage in open negotiations, resolve their differences peacefully, and work towards a just and lasting solution.
